A/N: Big-Big-Thankyous to everyone who reviewed. Wow, 400, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I get that many. It's all because of you guys, thanks again. I'd also like to thank Shining Eclipse for her help with coming up with the name for the concert mentioned in this chapter.
There is a link on my profile for the song "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys, which is mentioned in this chapter. It does make the scene more comical if you listen to the song first. I recommend at least listening through the first chorus.
Reminder: if you are looking for some great stories to read, head on over to my betas profiles...halojones and nothingleft. You won't be disappointed.
Lastly, if you haven't stopped by Twilight Awards and voted for your favorite stories and authors I encourage you to take a few minutes and do so. More Than a Beautiful Mess, as well as The Project have been nominated in several catagories. I believe voting will close Saturday, July 19. You can find a link to the site on my profile.
Twilight is still not mine, last time I'd checked Stephenie Meyer wasn't letting it go.
...now the story continues...
--
Girl Can't Help It
BPOV
Excitement buzzed throughout the school as I made my way to my most dreaded of all classes, P.E. The announcement we'd all been anticipating for the past week had finally been made during fourth period. Principal Greene's, "Amped Up" Concert, would be held in two weeks. Amped Up was his way of 'connecting' with the male student population. To be honest, Mr. Greene was really just a die-hard fan of 80's music and he used this as an outlet to force it on the entire student body. All the male students who wanted to participate in the event had to submit what they would be performing by the weeks end.
The girls were not left out by any means, we did all the behind the scenes work and prepared everything before hand so that the show would go off without a hitch. As you could have guessed, Alice took a lead role making sure all the guys who were performing were dressed impeccably in authentic 80's garb. If it weren't for us ladies, the show would never happen. After all the small details were taken care of, we got to stand down front and watch all the guys make complete fools of themselves. Only a few of the acts could be considered good and worthy of listening to; but without the comic relief, we'd really have no show at all.
/\/\/\
Once the announcement was made, Ms. Fields, our Culinary Arts teacher, had a hard time getting everyone back on task. After about five minutes of pleading, she finally gave up. She had all the girls gather around her desk, instructing us to get our creative minds flowing so that we could make this years concert the best one yet. She waved her hand dismissively at the boys, shooing them towards the back of the room. "You guys know what you should be doing, now leaves us girls to our planning."
Ms. Fields was really into the whole thing. She too, was a die-hard 80's fan. She was the event coordinator every year. Without her, I don't think the whole thing would ever come to fruition. You know how men are; they have the idea, but it's the women who make it happen.
/\/\/\
"Amped Up" had become the topic of everyone's conversation and many students loitered in the hall discussing who would be performing what at this year's event. It made it rather difficult to maneuver down the hallways. By the time I finally walked into the locker room, it was just about empty.
When I glanced up to the activity board to see what we'd be doing, I was not happy to see that the lesson for the day was Square Dancing. Since when was Square Dancing an athletic activity? For crying out loud; I was born with two left feet, how would I ever accomplish this task without seriously wounding every guy in the class? I was sure they'd be avoiding me at all cost.
With me being the last one to arrive in the gym, there were slim pickins' in the partner department. Of course, Rose and Emmett were already partnered up, as well as anyone else I would have considered suitable. As I scanned the gym at a loss for what to do, I noticed James striding, no sauntering, across the gym towards me. Oh God, please tell me he is not the only one left without a partner.
This was not going to go over well with Edward; and to be honest, he was kind of starting to creep me out a little. It seemed every time I turned around, there he was. I just couldn't seem to shake him off. I now understood Edward's comparison of him to a parasite constantly gnawing on its host. He just didn't seem to get the fact that I was taken and would be for eternity. Why couldn't he just turn his sights on one of the available girls in school? I mean, he was easy on the eyes and no doubt several of them would be more than willing to oblige.
The girls and I were definitely going to have to discuss this escalating situation. It looked as if we were going to have to take matters into our own hands. No way would the guys be able to handle this rationally. One or all of them might end up in jail and I wasn't about to be visiting my man in the big house.
I looked to Rose wide-eyed as I plead silently for her to save me. She was too caught up in her excitement of dancing with Cowboy Emmett on school time to provide me any service. She gave me a shrug: "Sorry," she mouthed. Some friend she is. Isn't there a saying for this exact situation? Something like "sisters before misters?" Maybe she hadn't received that news flash. She and I would be having words about this later.
Before I could think of a plan, James was standing before me offering me his hand. Crap, please let this be the day that Edward just meets me at the car. I'm really not in the mood for a knock down, drag out between the two of them should he see James anywhere near me.
I forced a smile to my face as he began to speak, "Well Bella, it looks as if fate has brought us together once more."
He could not be serious. Fate? Ugh, this is more serious than I had thought. I glanced down at my watch. This was going to be the longest forty minutes of my life. Not only did I have to stay up right and not injure anyone while completing the dance exercises, but now I was going to have repeatedly swat at an overly obsessive hormonal fly as well. Where's Alice when I really need her? She was always good at dealing with annoying pests.
Luckily I did not have to say anything, Coach Neally blew his whistle, signaling for everyone to gather round for directions. I grabbed James' hand reluctantly and quickly joined the rest of the class. I quickly dropped his hand and crossed my arms over my chest once we were with the rest of the class. I tried my best not to look pissed and I was only keeping my arms crossed to keep me from hauling off and smacking Rose who now stood beside me. 'Sure Rose, like that's going to help me now,' I thought. Maybe I should hit her, the coach might send me to Principal Greene's office. Yes, that just might be the answer to this spiraling situation.
I quickly dismissed that thought. If I ended up in the principal's office for fighting, not to mention fighting my best friend, Charlie and Renee would have my head. I wouldn't see the light of day for weeks.
I sighed heavily and decided I better pay attention. Coach Neally asked if anyone had had any prior Square Dance training. I should have guessed who'd raise their hand: Cowboy Emmett. I shook my head and rolled my eyes, of course, I thought sarcastically. Just another secret he'd yet to reveal to Rose that was sure to make her go weak in the knees. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he'd even been on an exhibition team that performed nightly at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, I giggled at that though. James looked at me confused.
Coach motioned for Emmett and Rosalie to move to the front of the group, they were to be his demo couple. When the dance calls were made and we didn't understand, they would be there to show us exactly what we should be doing. Great, just great. Now there was no chance Rose would be paying any attention to my demise. Crap, could this get any worse?
"Ok class, everyone link hands and make a circle around Emmett and Rosalie. Once the circle is made turn and face your partner," the coach instructed us. "Today's song selection will be Elvira, by the Oak Ridge Boys."
He said this like it most the most popular song known to man. To be honest, I'd never heard this song, and who the hell were the Oak Ridge Boys? Ahh, I wanted to scream.
James looked at me like a kid in a candy store as the coach instructed the guys to take the girls right hand with their left and to place their right hand on our waist.
"Bella, this will be more fun for you if you'll just relax. If it helps you to know, I am a rather good dancer. I promise I won't step on your feet," he said trying to reassure me.
"It's not my feet I'm worried about; but if you don't mind being bruised and maimed, let's get on with this," I said with a grimace.
If he only knew what he was in for, he'd be wishing to be partners with anyone, anyone besides me. Eric Yorkie would even make a better partner than me. That's when the thought came to me, maybe for once my clumsiness could used to my advantage, for my own enjoyment. Even if I wasn't completely able to shake myself free of his annoying presence, I could at least get some pleasure out of watching him suffer for it. A huge grin spread across my face, now he looked worried, I chuckled inwardly. Yes, he was going to pay.
The coach walked the whole class through the routine a couple of times so that we could learn the calls and the steps that went with them. I did my best to follow along, however making sure as often as possible to accidentally land my foot on top of James'.
"Oops. Sorry, but I did forewarned you, dancing is not my forte," I said giving him my best sweet Bella smile.
"You weren't kidding, maiming is a real possibility," his voice hinting at aggravation.
Emmett and Rosalie flowed gracefully around the circle like they'd been doing this their whole lives. They would stop and help whenever they saw that a couple was having trouble. I had to bite my tongue as some very unkind things floated around my head.
As they neared us they began to slow. I gave Rose my best death glare and nodded for them to move on. My strategy seemed to be working and I wasn't about to have her screwing it up now because she was feeling guilty about abandoning me, her best friend, in my time of need.
After running through the routine twice the coach pushed played on the tape deck and the hideous song blared through the speakers. How is it possible that this song ever became popular? A five year could have written it.
Eyes that look like heaven, lips like sherry wine
That girl can sure enough make my little light shine
I get a funny feelin' up and down my spine
'Cause I know that my Elvira's mine
I looked up at James and to my chagrin he was mouthing the words. Not just mouthing them, but doing it with feeling as he were singing them to me. Oh, for the love of all that is holy. Please, please tell me he isn't this pathetic.
As Coach Neally continued with the dance calls, we stumbled our way around the circle with a lot of help due to my 'clumsiness.' To give James some credit, he did do his best to hold his tongue. Occasionally a foul word did escape his lips. I, of course, continued to apologize profusely.
Even with the 'unintentional' pain I was inflicting on him he never ceased in is efforts to win me over to his side, the dark side.
"You know Bella, they just opened up that new Italian restaurant down on Main. Maybe I could take you there sometime?" He asked innocently.
"James honestly, what do you think Edward would have to say about that? Do you really think he'd appreciate his girlfriend going on a date with another guy?" I asked sharply.
"It wouldn't have to be a date per say. It could just be two childhood friends getting reacquainted after a long separation. I don't see how he could deny you that. It's not like you're married or anything," he said as if he had no ulterior motives.
I was finding it hard to be nice. It just wasn't me to be snippy with others. I never wanted to make anyone feel bad or unhappy. But I was beginning to feel a mean streak boiling within in me, and it was about to erupt if I didn't get way from this yahoo soon.
My prayer was answered with the coach blowing his whistle to signal an end to class. "We will pick back up here tomorrow," he informed us. Great, I'd have to make sure I got to class sooner then. I'd force Rosalie to let Emmett be my partner if I had to, she owed me that. Another day of being in James' arms was out of the question. I'd fake an injury sending myself to the nurse's office before I'd endure another day being this close to him again.
"James, that's not going to work, sorry. We can get reacquainted when your family comes over for dinner next week, ok?" God, when was he going to take a hint? I turned and nearly ran out of the gym before he had time to object.
No sooner had I turned the corner to head into the locker room, than I ran smack into Edward. He was fuming. Just lovely, I thought.
--
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The story is beginning to wind down or should I say wind up? However, I'm not ready to do away with James just yet. Soon though, I'm not sure how much more our wonderful Edward can take...lol.
Leave me a REVIEW and I'll send you a PREVIEW of the next chapter. A single word of encouragement would suffice. I'd love to hear you thoughts on what should be done about James? Who should take care of this escalating matter, the guys or the girls? Hey, if you have a better title for this chapter, I'm up for suggestions. I'm not so sure I'm happy with Girl Can't Help It, I kind of decided on it at the last minute.
For anyone living in the Orlando area, I am having my first meeting with the Barnes and Nobles rep at the Altamonte Mall tomorrow afternoon about the upcoming Breaking Dawn book release party. I will let you know how it goes and on what dates events will be taking place. If you want more information let me know in your review and when I get it I will send you a PM. Yay! I'm so excited. We might possibily be looking for help with the event, more to come on that.
